Toy puzzle.



W. B. BARNHART.

TOY PUZZLE.

PLICATION FILED NOV. 15. I915 AP 1 ,1 89,527. Patented July 4, 1916.

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W. B. BARNHART,

TOY PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15. l9l5.

Patented July 4, 1916.

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gnumdoz WILLIAM B. IBARNHABT, OF ADELAIDE, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOY PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Application filed November 15, 1915. Serial No. 61,652.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, \VILLIAM B. BARN- HART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adelaide, in the county of Fayette, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Puzzles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates toy puzzles.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a toy puzzle which is so constructed as to be apparently easy to put together or take apart, but that the actual assemblage and separation of the parts of which shall constitute an amount of perplexity.

Another object is 'to provide a puzzle of this character which is formed of a plurality of interlocking sections or parts, the peripheral outline of the whole completed figure of which can be varied, in the manufacture of the device, to represent cubes, spheres, or polygonal prisms or the like.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the foundation block or section; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the vertical block or section which interlocks with the foundation section; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the side sections; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the other side section; Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective view of the cap block or section; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the key bar or section; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the foundation bar and the vertical bar in interlocked position; Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the same parts as Fig. 7, with the addition of the block or section shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the parts of Fig. 8, with the block or section of Fig. 4: added thereto; Fig. 10 shows the puzzle further assembled with the cap block or section added; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the completed puzzle, the key bar or section having been properly inserted; and Fig. 12 is a perspective view from the diagonally opposite side of the device from to improvements in Fig. 11, but with the device tilted upwardly to expose the bottom face. Referring particularly to the accompany- 111g drawing, and especially to Fig. 1, 10 represents the foundation block of the puzzle. This block is elongated and angular and has formed in one of its longer sides an angular notch or recess 11 while the opposite longer side is cutaway throughout approximately two-thirds of its length which results in a vertically disposed shoulder 12. On the first side of the block there is formed a longitudinally extending shoulder 13, while at the other end of the block there is an upwardly extending angular lug 14.

The block- 15 shown in Fig. 2, is substantially E-shaped, the middle portion of the,

back of which is cut transversely through to form an opening or recess 16. The projections of the forward portions of the E are represented respectively by the reference characters 17, 18 and 19.

The block or section shown in Fig. 3 comprises a comparatively narrow and vertical web portion 20, cutaway at one end at the lower portion, as indicated at 21. Formed integrally with this last-named end of the web portion and extending from the upper wall of the cutaway portion to a point a suitable distance above the top of the web is a member 22. At the other end of the web there is a laterally directed flange or rib 23, the outer vertical face of which is in line with the corresponding face of the member 22. On the other side of the web, that is opposite the flange 23 is a longer thickened portion 24: which terminates at its upper end a short distance below the upper edge of the web, to provide the shoulder or ledge 25. Between the portion 24: and the portion 22 there is an opening or space 26.

Referring to Fig. 4: the block there shown is formed with a longitudinal ledge 27 on one side which is divided intermediate its length by a' recess 28. On the other side of the block, and above the ledge 27 is formed a recess 29 similar to the recess 28 but slightly oifset toward the opposite end of the block therefrom. One side wall of this recess 27 extends downwardly to the bottom of the block and forms the vertical shoulder 30. Transversely through the under side of the block, and directly in line with the recess 28 is a channel 31.

The cap block 32 comprises a substantially H-shaped block the side members of which are formed with the longitudinally extending and inwardly disposed ledges 33. One of the side members is slightly shorter than the other side member as clearly shown. The cross or connecting portion 3a is thinner than the side members, one face lying in a plane with the shoulders 33.

In Fig. 6 there is shown the key block or section 35 which is substantially L-shaped, the shank being square in cross section.

In assembling the sections the foundation block is held between the fingers and thumb with the projection lei uppermost and remote from the operator. The vertical block of Fig. 2 is then brought so that the lower or thicker end of the same enters the recess 11, and the cross portion of the foundation block disposed between the projections 18 and 19. There is thus left a channel between the member 18 and the projection 14. Into this is inserted the narrower portion of the block of Fig. 8, the wider portion eX- tending downwardly against the face of the foundation block while the shoulder 25 is disposed in the plane with the upper face ofthe projection 14. The block of Fig. 4 is then slipped in the side of the device toward the operator so that the smaller end of the block engages against the ledge 13 of the foundation block, and the upper face of the ledge 27 is disposed in the same plane as the portion of the foundation block adjacent the ledge 13. The cap block is then slipped on to the top of the thus assembled blocks from the right, the cross member 34: passing under the upper projection 17 of the vertical block, the shorter of the side members of the cap block engaging against the member 22 and said side members straddling the upper end of the vertical block. There thus remains a vertical opening which is square in cross section, through the device.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,'by addressing the The key block is then inserted in this opening and pushed down to fill the remaining space between the side members of the cap block, with its lateral portion. The completely assembled puzzle is shown in Fig. 1.1.

To knock down the puzzle, the key block is first removed, then the cap block slipped rom its place, after which the side blocks slip from their places to permit the vertical block to be disengaged from the foundation block.

\Vhile I have shown the puzzle in the form of a cube, it will be readily understood that the main outline of the same may be spherical, polygonal or any other desired shape Without in any way altering the specific interlocking structural features of the sections or blocks.

What is claimed is:

1. A composite puzzle comprising a foundation block, a vertical block interlocking with one side of the foundation block, side blocks interlocking with the foundation block and with the vertical block, a cap block interlocking with the side blocks and the vertical block, and a key block inserted between the side blocks and through the cap block.

2. A composite puzzle comprising a suitably notched foundation block, a vertical E-shaped block, interlocking therewith, side blocks interlocking with the aforesaid block, an H-shaped block interlocking with the side blocks and the E-shaped block, and an L- shaped key block disposed through the H shaped block and through the side blocks.

In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

XVILLIAM B. BARNHART. lrVitnesses G. l/V. PATTERSON, J. B. KURTZ.

"Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

